Dr. Couch, I have become convinced by you, through the Scriptures, that
congregational polity should be elder rule. Why have others not seen
this? And what are the advantages and disadvantages?
You need my book A Biblical Theology of the Church (Kregel). It
is gaining in interest and I know of many Bible colleges that are using
it in the Ecclesiology courses.
The main reason elder leadership is important is, first of all, it is
scriptural. It creates a shared responsibility, supposedly between wise
spiritual men (not women). But the negative is obvious. If you have a
bunch of men who are driven by carnality, and who thrive on power, you
will have impotency and conflict. Many such elder “boards” (or wrongly
so, deacon “boards”) love to control the lead elder or senior pastor so
that he is in deadlock and cannot get any thing done.
While I absolutely believe in elder leadership, because it is
biblical, I have come to the conclusion that it is best, at the
beginning of a ministry, to have none or only a few men sharing in the
pioneering of the church. Elders must be easy going and not be seeking
after misplaced authority and power. I am more convinced than I used to
be that the Lord gets things done, if you will, through the strong
leadership of a leader! He often has the vision and must be free to
carry it out and make it work. One of the problems of plurality of
leadership is that those “in power” think they must decide on all
issues, speak their piece on every minor point, and control everything.
This creates deadlock. The elders should trust the pioneer, the leader.
Is there biblical evidence for what I’m saying? I think so.
The apostle Paul said that he left Titus in Crete “that you might set
in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed
you” (Titus 1:5). Notice that the authority was placed in the hands of
one strong man. The churches were not fully developed and so Titus was
to do what was necessary to make the situations work. Also, Titus on his
own was to appoint elders (plural), under the direction of Paul. There
was no voting, deciding every detail, among the elders, BECAUSE at this
point there were none in the churches! But also I do not think that is
their calling.
In the church of Corinth there apparently were no elders in the
assembly because of gross ineptitude and carnality. There were a bunch
of gossips who tried to destroy the authority of Paul. Any excuse will
do when one wants to get rid of the leading of a strong man! Generally
it seems as if it can be jealousy that brings the worst out of some in
leadership roles. It goes to their heads. They want to control simply
because they want to control!
Unfortunately, most elders seem to go to one extreme or another. They
put their thumbs in their mouths, go brain dead, and become spiritually
impotent. Or, they think they know better than an older, experienced
leader, and they want to take charge. Often more destruction follows
rather than the advancement for the sake of Christ. What causes so many
difficulties is that people fail to look and see the blessings taking
place. There is the failure to observe and care about the spiritual
growth of the little people in the congregation.
Thanks for asking, and consider getting my book on the theology of the church.
Dr. Mal Couch
